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Russian armed forces create closed data exchange system

The Russian army is creating a closed system to exchange digital information. It is called multiservice transportation and communication network (MTSS). The first stage will be completed in late 2019 and the system is to be fully ready in two years. MTSS will have its own search engine and the military will ensure independent operation through a fiber-optic Arctic cable. MTSS has to ensure cybersecurity of the country along with the protected Russian segment of the world web which is being considered, the Izvestia daily writes.

The MTSS will provide high-speed transmission of any information volume on the whole national territory with Big Data technology (Picture source: Russian MoD)

The multiservice transportation and communication network (MTSS) will have no traffic exchange points connecting it with the world web, the Defense Ministry told the newspaper. All important information will be kept on Defense Ministry servers. Besides, it is planned that MTSS will provide high-speed transmission of any information volume on the whole national territory with Big Data technology.

At present, the Russian military use the closed data transmission segment (ZSPD) for information exchange. Until recently it has been also used by civilian operators. ZSPD will be fully integrated into MTSS which is created on the basis of the latest Russian designs in the sphere of digital data transmission.

MTSS will have its own fiber-optic network which will be divided into main zonal channels. The Defense Ministry is preparing to lay a transarctic line for the Navy and coastal forces. The fiber-optic cable will go via the Arctic to the Far East from Severomorsk to Vladivostok.

A single control system with modern hard and software will be created for safe and fast data transmission. It is called the Single contour of information security.

MTSS will have an electronic register for the actions of officials and user identification. It will be able to restore all actions of the military in the network. The officers in charge of the contour will track the traffic in real time and redirect information flows in case any segment is overloaded.

The main elements of the system also include an emergency registration module. It is designed to redistribute tasks to restore the system. Besides, the accumulated data archive will be used to design software to forecast emergencies and ensure reliable MTSS operation.

The data archive of ministerial information and data from military units will be kept only on Defense Ministry servers. It will have a constant standby to preserve the data in case one of the servers breaks down. The army will get a closed cloud for office and secret information. The Defense Ministry is already creating territorial centers for information processing.

The military Internet will have its own semantic search engine to request information by keywords and phrases. MTSS databank will keep and update information on the ground forces, aircraft at airfields and in the sky, submarines, warships and military spacecraft. The information will create an interactive map with really existing brigades and divisions of the Russian army. The maps will allow the command to assess the situation from the National Defense Command Center.

MTSS will be also necessary for a combat situation. Strelets reconnaissance and communication complex already now provides the map of a combat area to a gadget. Scouts will add data to it via protected channels. Besides, the network will have a protected regime to ensure logistics: food and material, hardware, arms and munition supplies, the Izvestia said.